Processing servo data having DC level shifts

ABSTRACT

A read channel component of a magnetic recording system employs equalization of a signal received from the magnetic recording channel, the equalization being modified depending upon the presence or absence of DC shifts in the signal. Equalization corrects for DC shifts, if present, prior to detection and decoding of servo data, such as servo address mark (SAM) and Gray code data. In a first implementation, a DC shift detector detects the presence or absence of DC shifts and modifies equalization in a predetermined manner. In a second implementation, filtering is applied to the signal to enhance equalization in the presence of DC shift, and both filtered and unfiltered signals employed for detection of the servo data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/436,527, filed on May 13, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,231,001, whichclaims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional applicationNo. 60/457,041, filed on Mar. 24, 2003, the contents of both of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to detection of data in a communicationssystem, and, more particularly, to processing of servo data informationread from a channel.

2. Description of the Related Art

A read channel integrated circuit (IC) is a component of a modern diskdrive, such as a hard disk drive found in many PCs. A read channelcomponent converts and encodes data to enable the (e.g., magnetic)recording head(s) to write data to the disk and then read back the dataaccurately. The disks in a hard disk drive typically include many trackscontaining encoded data, and each track comprises one or more of user(or “read”) data sectors as well as “servo” data sectors embeddedbetween the read sectors. The information of the servo sectors aids inpositioning the magnetic recording head over a track on the disk so thatthe information stored in the read sectors may be retrieved accurately.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional magnetic recording system 100 of the priorart. Servo information is encoded by block encoder 101, and blockencoder 101 may represent one or more different encoders associated withdifferent fields of the servo information, such as Gray code and servoaddress mark (SAM) data. The encoded servo information is written to thedisk (or other recording medium) as servo sector information.

FIG. 2 shows the format of servo sector information 200. Servo sectorinformation 200 comprises preamble 201 (e.g., a 2T pattern) that allowsthe system to recover the timing and gain of the written servo data.Preamble 201 may be followed by encoded SAM data 202, which is generallyan identical identification address (fixed number of bits) for all servosectors. SAM data 202 may then be followed by Gray data 203 (i.e.,encoded Gray code). Gray data 203 represents track number/cylinderinformation and may be employed as coarse positioning information forthe magnetic head. One or more burst demodulation fields 204 follow Graydata 203. Burst demodulation fields 204 are employed as fine positioninginformation for the head over the track. Repeatable-run-out (RRO) datafield 205 follows burst demodulation fields 204. RRO data in RRO datafield 205 provides head-positioning information to correct for RRO,which occurs when the head does not track an ideal path over the disk.RRO information is finer than that provided by the Gray data and coarserthan that provided by the burst demodulation fields.

Returning to FIG. 1, the encoded servo information is read back by amagnetic recording head. Together, the process of writing to, storingon, and reading from the disk by the recording head may be modeled asmagnetic recording channel 102 with added noise and DC shifts. Data readfrom the disk is referred to as readback data. The readback data isequalized to a desired target partial response by equalizer 103.Equalizer 103 comprises continuous time filter (CTF) 120 followed bydiscrete time, finite impulse response (FIR) filter 121. Sampling of thesignal from CTF 120 might be accomplished via switch 122. Sampling mightbe synchronous using the timing information from digital phase lockedloop (DPLL) 123 when servo SAM, Gray, and demodulation burst data areread, but might also be asynchronous if DPLL 123 is not used. Samplingof the signal from CTF 120 might be asynchronous when RRO data is read.The output of equalizer 103 is digitized and quantized byanalog-to-digital converter (ADC) 104, whose output is shown as Yvalues.

For either synchronous and asynchronous sampling, the Y values might beapplied to data detector 105, which is typically a partial-responsemaximum-likelihood (PRML) detector employing, for example, a Viterbialgorithm. Detector 105 may also be implemented with a slicer.Constraints imposed by the servo-encoding algorithm of block encoder 101might be employed in the design of data detector 105 for optimaldecoding of the encoded servo information. The output of data detector105 is applied to SAM detector 107 to detect the SAM data. The output ofdata detector 105 and the output of SAM detector 107 are applied to Graycode decoder 108 to generate decoded Gray data. The ‘Y’ values are alsoapplied to burst demodulator 111 to generate fine positioninginformation for the head over the track.

For asynchronous sampling, such as when DPLL 123 is not used or whenreading RRO data, data phase generator 109 and data phase selector 110might be employed. Data phase generator 109 generates one or moreadditional sample sequences from the Y values, each additional samplesequence having a different phase relative to the phase of asynchronoussamples from ADC 104. The one or more additional sample sequences mightbe generated either by asynchronous over-sampling or by interpolation ofthe asynchronous samples from ADC 104. The one or more additional samplesequences and the asynchronous samples from ADC 104 are provided to dataphase selector 110. Data phase selector 110 selects of the inputsequences for use by data detector 105 based on a determination of whichsequence phase is closest to those having ideal timing.

In addition to noise, DC (baseline level) shifts might impair the signalof recording channel 102. Performance of magnetic recording system 100,as measured by SAM detection error rate and Gray code detection errorrate, might be degraded considerably when large amplitude DC shiftscorrupt the encoded servo information signal. These DC shifts mightoccur when the read head becomes unstable. FIG. 3A shows a graph ofwaveforms with DC baseline shift (shown as dashed lines) and without DCbaseline shift (shown as solid lines) before sampling, and FIG. 3B showsa graph of waveforms with and without DC baseline shift afterequalization and sampling (circles are sample points). Shown in FIGS. 3Aand 3B are the input servo signal as well as one phase of the servosignal at the output of ADC 104 before data detection, respectively.

Data detector 105 might detect positive and negative peaks in the servosignal, but DC shifts in the servo signal cause severe signaldiscontinuities. DC shifts might occur i) randomly within the servosignal, ii) with random duration, and iii) multiple times. Consequently,DC shifts of magnetic recording system 100 are different from a fixed DCoffset applied to the entire servo signal or a fixed offset applied tothe signal corresponding to individual servo-encoded words. Depending onwhere the DC shifts occur in the signal, the DC shift might lead to asevere reduction in amplitude of the peaks in the signal, preventingreliable data detection regardless of the type of data detectionemployed by system 100. For example, in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the amplitudeof the negative peak around time 1025 is severely degraded. Lessreliable data detection results in an increase in the SAM detection andGray bit error rates, which inhibits proper operation of the servosystem and, in particular, the throughput of the servo system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to equalization of a signal received froma channel in which the equalization is modified depending upon thepresence or absence of DC shifts in the signal prior to detection of,for example, servo data. In one case, the presence or absence of DCshifts is detected and equalization is modified in a predeterminedmanner. In another case, filtering is applied to the signal to enhanceequalization in the presence of DC shift, and both filtered andunfiltered signals are employed for detection of the servo data.

In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, datain a signal read from a channel is detected by applying, with anequalizer, equalization to the signal to account for a DC shift in thesignal; and detecting the data based on either the presence or absenceof the DC shift in the signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following detailed description, theappended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a conventional magnetic recording system of the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a format for servo sector information employed with themagnetic recording system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3A shows a graph of waveforms with and without DC baseline shift;

FIG. 3B shows a graph of waveforms with and without DC baseline shiftafter sampling;

FIG. 4 shows a receiver for detecting and decoding data accounting forDC shift in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 shows a receiver for detecting and decoding data accounting forDC shift in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary method of conditioning employed by the SAMdetector and Gray code decoder of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary implementation of the digital post filterequalizer of FIGS. 5 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention,equalization of a signal received from a channel is modified dependingupon the presence or absence of DC shifts in the signal prior todetection and decoding of, for example, servo data. Equalization mightbe modified by first detecting DC shifts, or filtering of the signal maybe employed to enhance equalization in the presence of DC shifts. Whenfiltering is employed, both filtered and unfiltered signals might beemployed for detection and decoding of the servo data.

FIG. 4 shows a receiver 400 for detecting and decoding servo dataaccounting for DC shifts in accordance with a first exemplary embodimentof the present invention. Receiver 400 comprises equalizer 401 havingcontinuous time filter (CTF) 402 and finite impulse response filter 403,analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 404, and DC shift detector 405.Receiver 400 further comprises burst demodulator 411, data phasegenerator 406, data phase selector 407, data detector 408, servo addressmark (SAM) detector 409, and Gray code decoder 410.

Receiver 400 receives an analog signal read from, for example, amagnetic recording channel. The analog signal may represent encodedservo information, such as encoded Gray and SAM data read from a disk(or other recording medium) as servo sector information. The analogsignal is equalized to a desired target partial channel response, suchas an EPR4 ([5 5 −5 −5]) response. Equalization by equalizer 401 tendsto correct for effects of inter-symbol interference resulting from thesignal passing through the magnetic recording channel. FIR filter 403may be characterized by a set of filter tap coefficients. Methods fordetermining both analog filter circuit components for CTF 402 and filtertaps for FIR filter 403 to equalize the input signal are well known inthe art. In addition, equalizer 401 may correct for DC shifts in theinput signal.

Sampling of the signal from CTF 402, shown in FIG. 4 by switch 422, isasynchronous and the output of equalizer 401 is digitized and quantizedby ADC 404, whose output is an asynchronous sample sequence shown as ‘Y’values. The asynchronous sample sequence from ADC 404 is applied to DCshift detector 405. DC shift detector 405 detects DC shifts in thesampled, equalized signal from the recording channel. DC shift detector405 may be implemented by, for example, a threshold or similar leveldetector. As described subsequently, when a DC shift is detected, DCshift detector 405 provides a signal to equalizer 401 to modifyoperation of equalizer 401 to correct for the detected DC shift.

The asynchronous sample sequence is applied to data phase generator 406.Data phase generator 406 generates one or more additional samplesequences from the Y values, each sample sequence having a phaserelative to the asynchronous samples from ADC 404. The one or moreadditional sample sequences might be generated either by asynchronousover-sampling or by interpolation of the asynchronous samples from ADC404. The one or more additional sample sequences of data phase generator406 and the asynchronous samples from ADC 404 are provided to data phaseselector 407. Data phase selector 407 selects one (or possibly two) ofthe input sequences for use by data detector 408 based on adetermination of which sequence phase is closest to the ideal samplesequence. The initial data phase is typically determined during apreamble or 2T pattern within the encoded servo data, and thencontinually updated thereafter.

The sample sequence selected by data phase selector 407 is applied todata detector 408, which is typically a partial-responsemaximum-likelihood (PRML) detector employing, for example, a version ofthe well-known Viterbi algorithm. Data detector 408 might also beimplemented as a slicer. Constraints imposed by the algorithm employedto encode the servo data might be employed in the design of datadetector 408 for optimal decoding of the encoded servo information. Theoutput of data detector 408 is applied to SAM detector 409 to detect theSAM data. The output of data detector 408 and the output of SAM detector409 are applied to Gray code decoder 410 to generate decoded Gray data.Methods for detection of SAM data and decoding of Gray data are wellknown in the art. The ‘Y’ values are also applied to burst demodulator411 to generate fine positioning information for the head over thetrack.

Operation of DC shift detector 405 is now described. Examination ofanalog waveforms representing servo data with DC shifts shows that thesignal peaks present in a servo signal might be enhanced using anequalizer that provides gain or boost at higher frequencies above thosecorresponding to the DC-shifts up to and beyond the Nyquist frequency.Thus, the corner frequency of the filter for CTF 402 might be set to theNyquist frequency, providing Nyquist equalization. Nyquist equalizationmight degrade performance of receiver 400 with respect to SAM detectionand Gray code decoding when only noise, and no DC shifts, are present asan impairment (i.e., when the head is in a “stable” state). The readhead might transition from a stable state to a long period ofinstability, or unstable state, over multiple servo sectors beforereturning to the stable state.

Consequently, the presence of DC shifts are detected by DC shiftdetector 405, which generates a signal to change equalization of CTF 402to Nyquist equalization during periods having DC shifts. Although agiven implementation of DC shift detector might take approximately oneservo sector processing time period to detect a DC shift and changeequalization by equalizer 401, each subsequently processed sectorbenefits from the Nyquist equalization. Once DC shift detector 405detects that a DC shift is no longer present, DC shift detector 405generates a signal to switch equalization by equalizer 401 back to theoriginal setting.

The first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 preferably employs a digitalrealization of DC shift detector 405, while other implementations mightemploy an analog DC shift detector instead. While additional analogcircuitry is employed when the analog DC shift detector is used, ananalog DC shift detector might allow for faster detection of DC shifts.

An implementation for DC shift detector 405 might employ one of a numberof different methods known in the art. For example, one implementationobserves a moving average output of ADC 404 and declares the presence ofmultiple DC shifts due to an unstable head when the moving averagecrosses a threshold. The moving average might be computed over apredetermined number W of samples, and the corresponding moving averagefilter (having filter length W) has W “1” s as its impulse response. Thethreshold might be optimized to minimize false DC shift detection basedon a cost criterion. A related implementation for DC shift detector 405might declare the absence or presence of DC shifts by observing theaverage output of ADC 404 over a servo sector. For the case where headinstability is sporadic over a sector, but tends to repeat from sectorto sector, DC shift detector 405 might declare the presence of DC shiftswhen the moving average output of ADC 404 crosses the threshold a givennumber of times during the sector. Similarly, the absence of DC shiftsis declared when the moving average output does not cross the thresholdduring a sector. Yet another implementation for DC shift detector 405might observe the absolute value of the output of ADC 404 over time todetect changes in baseline DC level.

FIG. 5 shows a receiver 500 for detecting and decoding data accountingfor DC shift in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Receiver 500 comprises equalizer 501 havingcontinuous time filter (CTF) 502 and finite impulse response filter 503,and analog to digital converter (ADC) 504. Receiver 500 furthercomprises burst demodulator 512, data phase generator 505, data phaseselector 506, post filter equalizer 508, data detectors 507 and 509, SAMdetector 510, and Gray code decoder 511.

Equalizer 501 and ADC 504 each operate in a similar manner to that ofequalizer 401 and ADC 404, respectively, of FIG. 4, except thatequalization of equalizer 501 is not switched to Nyquist equalization inthe presence of DC shifts. In addition, data phase generator 505 anddata phase selector 506 each operate in a similar manner to that of dataphase generator 406 and data phase selector 407, respectively, of FIG.4. Burst demodulator 512 receives unfiltered values from ADC 504.

The second exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplaryembodiment in that a DC shift detector is not employed; instead, postfilter equalizer 508 is employed to post-process the sample sequencefrom data phase selector 506 for improved performance of SAM detector510 and Gray code decoder 511. If the DC shifts occur with relativelygreat frequency, then more than a full servo sector might be required todetect the presence of DC shifts. The second exemplary embodimentcorrects for effects of DC shifts by using a digital realization ofeither a finite impulse response (FIR) or an infinite impulse response(IIR) filter to post-process the sample sequence from data phaseselector 506. The coefficients of digital post filter equalizer 508might either be programmable or adaptively set based on an errorcriterion, such as minimum squared or absolute Euclidean distance. Thefilter coefficients of digital post filter equalizer 508 are in generalset to boost high-frequency signal components near the Nyquist frequencyin a manner similar to that described previously.

When no DC shifts are present, performance of SAM detector 510 and Graycode decoder 511 might not be as good if post filter equalizer 508 firstprocesses a detected sample sequence. Consequently, the sample sequencefrom data phase selector 506 is provided to two paths. In one path, thesample sequence is simply provided to data detector 507, while in theother path the sample sequence is first processed by post filterequalizer 508 and then applied to data detector 509. Data detectors 507and 509 each operate in a manner similar to that of data detector 408 ofFIG. 4, and data detectors 507 and 509 may be equivalent. Alternatively,data detectors 507 and 509 may be optimized to account for whether ornot the detector processes a sample sequence from post filter equalizer508.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary configuration for conditioning employed by theSAM detector and Gray code decoder of FIG. 5. SAM detector 510 of FIG. 5comprises conditioning logic 601 and SAM detection logic 603(a) and603(b). SAM conditioning logic 601 generates a logic OR of the outputsof SAM detection logic 603(a) and (603(b). SAM detection logic 603(a)detects the SAM based on the unfiltered path output of data detector507, while SAM detection logic 603(b) detects the SAM based on thefiltered path output of data detector 509. In one implementation, Graycode decoder 511 includes Gray code decoding logic 604, which generatesthe Gray code output based on only the output of data detector 507 (theunfiltered, selected sample sequence). Conditioning logic 601 might bemodified from the simple OR gate.

In another implementation, Gray code decoder 511 includes decision logic602 in addition to Gray code decoding logic 604. Decision logic 602might either i) combine the information from the two filtered andunfiltered path streams or ii) select one of the two streams from datadetectors 507 and 509. Decision logic 602 of FIG. 6 might be configuredto introduce a quality metric for use in selecting which bit to provideas input to Gray code decoding logic 604. One example of a qualitymetric might include a determination made for the outputs of the twodata detectors (e.g., data detectors 507 and 509) that, for a given peaklocation corresponding to a particular bit, which data detector producedthe larger peak.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary implementation 700 of digital post filterequalizer 508 of FIGS. 5 and 6. Post filter equalizer 700 is a (2-D) FIRfilter (“D” stands for one sample discrete time delay) comprisingmultipliers 701 and 702, flip-flops 703 and 704, and adder 705. Thecurrent sample multiplied by coefficient (2) in multiplier 702 is addedin adder 705 to the previous sample i) multiplied by −1 in multiplier701 and ii) stored in flip-flop 703. The result from adder 705 is storedin flip-flop 704. As would be apparent to one skilled in the art, otherfilters may be employed for a post filter equalizer 508.

For the described second exemplary embodiment, the data phase update bydata phase generator 505 and data phase selector 506 is performed basedon the unfiltered sample stream from ADC 504 only. However, for someimplementations, the data phase selection and update process might occurfor the filtered path instead of the unfiltered path. Consequently, postfilter equalizer 508 may be placed prior to data phase generator 505 anddata phase selector 506 in the signal path.

While the present invention is described employing an EPR4 ([5 5 −5 −5])target partial channel response, the present invention is not solimited. One skilled in the art may extend the teachings herein todifferent target partial channel responses. While the present inventionis described for detection and decoding of encoded servo data from amagnetic recording medium, the present invention is not so limited. Oneskilled in the art may readily extend the teachings herein to sampleddata read from other types of recording media, such as optical recordingmedia.

A receiver employing one or more embodiments of the present inventionmay have substantially improved detection performance for readback data.Implementations of the one or more embodiments might exhibit suchimproved detection performance for readback data without degrading thedetection performance of the servo demodulation data or the SAM and Graydata when no DC shifts are present to corrupt the servo signal. Suchimproved detection performance might improve the SAM detection and Graybit error rate performance of a system in the presence of DC shifts byas much as an order of magnitude or more.

The present invention can be embodied in the form of methods andapparatuses for practicing those methods. The present invention can alsobe embodied in the form of program code embodied in tangible media, suchas floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other machine-readablestorage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into andexecuted by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes anapparatus for practicing the invention. The present invention can alsobe embodied in the form of program code, for example, whether stored ina storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a machine, ortransmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electricalwiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagneticradiation, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed bya machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus forpracticing the invention. When implemented on a general-purposeprocessor, the program code segments combine with the processor toprovide a unique device that operates analogously to specific logiccircuits.

It will be further understood that various changes in the details,materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the principle andscope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

1. An apparatus for detecting data in a signal read from a channel, theapparatus comprising: an equalizer configured to apply equalization tothe signal to account for a DC shift in the signal; and a detectoradapted to detect the data based on either the presence or absence ofthe DC shift in the signal; and further comprising: a DC shift detectoradapted to detect the presence or absence of the DC shift in the signaland to generate a corresponding DC shift detect signal; wherein theequalizer, in response to the DC shift detect signal, modifies theequalization to Nyquist equalization when the DC shift detect signalindicates the presence of the DC shift in the signal.
 2. The inventionas recited in claim 1, wherein the equalizer is a post filter equalizer,and the apparatus further comprises: a combiner adapted to combine i)the signal before applying the equalization and ii) the signal afterapplying the equalization into a combined signal; and a detector adaptedto employ conditioned detection of the data based on the combinedsignal.
 3. The invention as recited in claim 2, wherein the combiner isa logic OR.
 4. The invention as recited in claim 2, wherein the data isservo data comprising servo address mark (SAM) data and Gray data, andwherein the detector detects the SAM data based on the combined signal.5. The invention as recited in claim 4, wherein the apparatus furthercomprises a decoder adapted to decode the Gray data in the signalwithout applying the equalization based on the detected SAM data.
 6. Theinvention as recited in claim 4, wherein the apparatus further comprisesdecision logic adapted to select either the i) the signal beforeapplying the equalization and ii) the signal after applying theequalization for decoding the Gray data.
 7. The invention as recited inclaim 6, wherein the decision logic selects based on a detection metric.8. The invention as recited in claim 2, wherein the post filterequalizer is a 2-D filter, where “D” is a unit discrete time delay. 9.The invention as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is embodiedin an integrated circuit (IC).
 10. The invention as recited in claim 9,wherein the IC is implemented in a read channel component of either amagnetic recording system or an optical recording system.
 11. A methodof detecting data in a signal read from a channel comprising the stepsof: (a) applying, with an equalizer, equalization to the signal toaccount for a DC shift in the signal; and (b) detecting the data basedon either the presence or absence of the DC shift in the signal; whereinstep (a) comprises the steps of: (a1) detecting the presence or absenceof the DC shift in the signal; and (a2) modifying the equalization toNyquist equalization when the DC shift detect signal indicates thepresence of the DC shift in the signal.
 12. The invention as recited inclaim 11, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of: (b1) combining i) thesignal before applying the equalization and ii) the signal afterapplying the equalization of step (a) into a combined signal; and (b2)conditioning detection of the data based on the combined signal.
 13. Theinvention as recited in claim 12, wherein step (b1) comprises the stepof logic ORing i) the signal before applying the equalization and ii)the signal after applying the equalization to generate the combinedsignal.
 14. The invention as recited in claim 12, further comprising thestep of (b3) detecting the data based on the combined signal.
 15. Theinvention as recited in claim 14, wherein for, step (b3), the data isservo data comprising servo address mark (SAM) data and Gray data, andwherein step (b3) detects the SAM data based on the combined signal. 16.The invention as recited in claim 15, wherein step (b3) further includesthe step of decoding the Gray data in the signal without equalizationbased on the detected SAM data.
 17. The invention as recited in claim14, further comprising the step of selecting either the i) the signalbefore applying the equalization and ii) the signal after applying theequalization for decoding the Gray data.
 18. The invention as recited inclaim 17, wherein either the i) the signal before applying theequalization and ii) the signal after applying the equalization isselected based on a detection metric.
 19. The invention as recited inclaim 12, wherein, for step (a), the equalization applied is a 2-Dfilter, where “D” is a unit discrete time delay.
 20. The invention asrecited in claim 11, wherein, for step (b), the data is servo data, andwherein step (b) further comprises the step of decoding the servo data.21. The invention as recited in claim 20, wherein, for step (b), theservo data includes servo address mark (SAM) data and Gray data, andwherein step (b) includes the steps of detecting the SAM data anddecoding the Gray data based on the detected SAM data.
 22. The inventionas recited in claim 11, wherein the method is embodied by a processor ofan integrated circuit.
 23. The invention as recited in claim 22, whereinthe method is implemented by the processor in a read channel componentof either a magnetic recording system or an optical recording system.24. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality ofinstructions, the plurality of instructions including instructionswhich, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement amethod for detecting data in a signal read from a channel, the methodcomprising the steps of: (a) applying, with an equalizer, equalizationto the signal to account for a DC shift in the signal; and (b) detectingthe data based on either the presence or absence of the DC shift in thesignal; wherein step (a) comprises the steps of: (a1) detecting thepresence or absence of the DC shift in the signal; and (a2) modifyingthe equalization to Nyquist equalization when the DC shift detect signalindicates the presence of the DC shift in the signal.